Broad Museum
Los Angeles, CA- GFRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete)
- 2015 PCI National Award Winner
Providing Innovative Solutions to Creative Precast Designs
Architectural Precast
Typical Precast Panel Section
Precast is a solid Concrete Panel System. The panel thickness and weight is determined by the project design requirements.
Panel Description
Architectural Precast is durable, provides moisture protection, and aesthetic versatility. Willis Construction is proud to have contributed our expert engineering design and craftsmanship to many highly recognizable California projects. Over the years, many design applications have been refined and developed to offer designers many choices when it comes to designing with Architectural Precast. Panel thickness is based upon design needs of the project and are cast with a custom color chosen by the Architect. Panels are normally given a light, medium, or heavy sandblast finish. Utilizing both light and heavy sandblast finishes in the same project is a commonly used design option to achieve two colors. Architectural Precast may also be cast with natural stone veneers, such as granite or limestone. Mechanical fasteners are anchored into the back side of the stone, prior to concrete being poured over the stone. Thin brick can be cast into the face of precast by securing the brick in a rubber form liner prior to pouring concrete. The rubber liner secures the brick during the pour process and creates a racked joint finish when the panel is stripped. Stone veneer and Thin Brick precast take advantage of the speed with which precast can be installed and the superior water-tight barrier that precast panels provide. Another option is to make a custom form liner that can make precast emulate other building materials, including, but not limited to wood, limestone, brick, cast stone, or a unique form shape that the Architect has designed specifically for a project. Casting Architectural Precast starts with a precisely leveled casting surface. The perimeter forms of the panel are set, and any designed depressions desired in the panel face, such as reveals, are secured to the panel form. The edge of all form parts are sealed with silicone before installing the reinforcing steel, connection embedment's, and the stripping and erection inserts. Once the panel has been inspected, the custom mix is then poured into the form. Concrete vibrators assist in consolidating the concrete to its final design thickness. The following morning each panel is stripped from its form and receives it's approved sandblast finish. Before finalizing the design of your next project, contact Willis Construction's Design Build team to take full advantage of the many design options of Architectural Precast.
Architectural Design Options
Architectural Precast mix designs come in a wide range of colors and textures. There are no standard colors. All mix designs are custom made to the designer's choice of color and sandblasted finish. Light sandblasted finishes leave the matrix color in place and the surface fairly smooth. A heavy sandblasted finish will expose the aggregate in the mix to create a completely different look. Utilizing Light and Heavy sandblasted finishes in the same panel, or project, is a common design option. Custom Form liners can make the surface of Precast simulate other natural materials such as Brick, Wood, or Stone. Adhering Thin Brick, Limestone, and Granite veneers to the face of Architectural Precast is also an option.
Contact Willis Construction to discuss your project's specific design.
Architectural Precast Projects
1550 Mission Street Housing
San Francisco, CAArchitectural Precast
Full Project Description
Architect:
SOM / HKS
General Contractor:
Build Group
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
Los Angeles, CAArchitectural Precast
Full Project Description
Architect:
Renzo Piano Building Workshop/Gensler
General Contractor:
Matt Construction
Yolo County Superior Courthouse
Woodland, CAArchitectural Precast and Granite on Precast back-up
Full Project Description
Architect:
Fentress Architects
General Contractor:
Hensel Phelps Construction Co.
Santa Clara Family Justice Center
San Jose, CAArchitectural Precast
Full Project Description
Architect:
ZGF Architects
General Contractor:
Hensel Phelps Construction Co.
Stockton Courthouse
Stockton, CAArchitectural Precast
Full Project Description
Architect:
NBBJ Architects
General Contractor:
Turner Construction
Central Place
San Jose, CAArchitectural Precast with light sandblast
Architect:
SB Architects
General Contractor:
Webcor Builders
UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay
San Francisco, CAArchitectural Precast
Architect:
Stantech
General Contractor:
DPR Construction Co.
510 Townsend
San Francisco, CA
Thin Brick on Precast Back-Up
Architect:
Studios Architecture
General Contractor:
DPR Construction
Capitol Area East End Complex Buildings 171-174, 225
Sacramento, CAArchitectural Precast with simulated Brick form liner
Architect:
Gruen Associates / Fentress Architects
General Contractor:
Clark Construction / Hensel Phelps Construction Co.
Reno Federal Courthouse
Reno, NVArchitectural Precast with heavy sandblast
Architect:
Cazzaza, Peetz & Mickey
General Contractor:
Kajima Construction
Christopher High School
Gilroy, CAArchitectural Precast with multiple colors, form liner for sill panels with post applied stain
Full Project DescriptionArchitect:
BCA Architects
General Contractor:
Gilbane Inc.
GAP Headquarters
San Francisco, CAThin Brick on Precast Back-up, Limestone with Precast Back-up, and GFRC at Tower
Architect:
Gensler
General Contractor:
Swinerton Builders
Dr. Martin Luther King Library
San Jose, CAArchitectural Precast with light and heavy sandblast
Architect:
Carrier Johnson
General Contractor:
Hensel Phelps Construction Co.
Chiron Life Sciences
Emeryville, CAThin Brick on Precast Back-up and custom board form liner for Precast at base.
Full Project DescriptionArchitect:
Ricardo Legorreta Architectos
General Contractor:
Clark Construction
Cliff Deck Parking
Roseville, CAArchitectural Precast with light sandblast
Architect:
Walker Parking Consultants / Stantech
General Contractor:
Overaa Construction
UC Davis Emergency and Trauma Center
Palo Alto, CAArchitectural Precast with heavy sandblast
Architect:
Gordon A. Chong & Partners
General Contractor:
Swinerton Builders
Latter Day Saints Tijuana Temple
Tijuana, MXGlass Fiber Reinforced Concrete and Architectural Precast
Full Project Description
Architect:
CRSA
General Contractor:
Haskell
1001 Van Ness
San Francisco, CAArchitectural Precast
Full Project Description
Architect:
Handel Architects
General Contractor:
Related
1021 O Street State Office Building
Sacramento, CAArchitectural Precast
Full Project Description
Architect:
HOK / Dreyfuss + Blackford
General Contractor:
Hensel Phelps Construction Co.
50 Jones Street
San Francisco, CAArchitectural Precast
Full Project Description
Architect:
Solomon Cordwell Buenz
General Contractor:
Swinerton Builders
Oracle Park
HOME OF THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
San Francisco, CAThin Brick on Precast back-up System; Architectural Precast window sills, caps and trim.
Full Project DescriptionArchitect:
HOK Sports
General Contractor:
Huber Hunt & Nichols / Kajima JV
Willis Construction has been providing Architectural Precast Concrete building panels and products for the construction industry since 1979. Willis Construction is dedicated to providing Owners, Architects, and General Contractors with the design and engineering expertise necessary to meet the building challenges of today and the future. The quality, durability, and long life of Architectural Precast Concrete, Thinshell, and GFRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete) systems provide a wide range of design options for virtually every type of building. Contact us to decide which system would be best suited for your next project.
Noteworthy Precast Projects
Hollywood Park Office
Inglewood, CA- Pre-Glazed GFRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete)
- 2022 PCI National Award Winner
1550 Mission Street Housing
San Francisco, CA- Architectural Precast
- 2021 PCI National Award Winner
- See Architects Comments
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
Los Angeles, CA- Architectural Precast
- 2021 PCI National Award Winner
- See Architects Comments
Projects in Progress
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